Help!

Hi,

So i am new to this, but thought I would try.

We have a little blue Staffy - Rocco and since a few weeks after having him we have had constant skin troubles. He is now 15 months! We have tried everything the vet has suggested as they believe its an allergy to something. we think it must be grass. I have tried everything, but recently he constantly licks and chews on his feet. His belly goes really sore. At the moment I use hibiscrub when he gets a flare up of the red skin and this calms it down. However, has anybody got any suggestions on how to stop his constant licking and chewing of his paws? I have used evening primrose oil, teatree ointment. I currently use an itch stick but that only helps temporarily. He is curently on apoquel half a tablet each day. I try and distract him when he starts, but I am not always there to stop him.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks!!

Laura

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Hello and welcome from us.

Skin problems and a blue coat instantly make me think of colour dilution alopecia. I presume your vets have checked for this?

Licking and chewing of the paws can also be due to stress and boredom. Does Rocco stay alone for any length of time ?

Hi from me & Katy Rocco is a handsome boy but I'm concerned like Nifty regarding him being blue. Did you meet his parents? Are they both blue? Breeding blue on blue bring major skin issues!!

Hi & welcome. 


If it's grass allergy, then a Piriton tablet two or three times a day can help. But the best way to deal with it would be to wipe his belly & paws with a warm, damp cloth every time he comes in from a walk. You could also try massaging in some coconut oil - it will benefit his skin, and act as a temporary barrier.

If it's Colour Dilution Alopecia there is very little you can do other than keeping his skin healthy. Coconut oil may help, but so may a can of sardines in oil two or three times a week. 

Does his skin look 'rubbery' or just inflamed?

Hi all,

Thanks for much for the replies. We actually havent heard of colour dilution alopecia so it might be worth asking the vets about that at our next visit. We did see both mum and dad and they were both blue. I did read before we got Rocco that blues do have a lot of skin problems, but typically you dont think it would happen to you!

he is really lucky in that he doesnt actually spend much time on his own at all. Maybe 3 hours every so often, but not much at all. We have tried the coconut oil but he loves the taste of it and makes him lick even more. We have started wiping his belly and paws when we come in from a walk.

I would say it is more inflamed. I guess the more he licks it, the more sore they become. I might try the sardines on his food too!

Thanks for all your help, and I will have a chat about the dilution alopecia.

Strangely enough, very few vets have even heard of CDA. The following might help you to understand it... 

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t17716-colour-dilution-alopecia#254063